Federal govt unveils its energy conservation plan, according to which all markets & restaurants will be shut down at 8:00 PM
ISLAMABAD, Dec 20, (SABAH): The Federal government has announced various steps under its National Energy Conservation Plan, according to which all the markets and restaurants will be shut down at 8:00 PM.
Briefing the media persons after the federal cabinet meeting held in Islamabad on Tuesday with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the Cabinet accorded approval to the national energy conservation plan and also approved policy of austerity measures.
The Defence Minister said the Federal government will also hold consultation with the provinces to take their input as well on these austerity measures. He said energy conservation and austerity is a national cause, and we want to launch it with consensus.
Elaborating the plan, the Minister said the Cabinet accorded approval to close down all restaurants, hotels and markets by 8:00 PM.
Similarly, marriage halls will be closed down till 10:00 PM. Moreover, electricity fans, bulbs and geezers will also made conservation friendly, while streets lights will be ON alternatively.
Moreover, use of electric bikes will be encouraged and the government is negotiating with a company for their manufacturing.
Khawaja Asif said all these austerity measures will help save billion of rupees of the government.
He said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will also run a special campaign to create awareness among the masses regarding for utility of these measures.
The Minister all these measures will be finalized within couple of days after having consultations with the provinces.
He said the cabinet discussed in detail about the impact of this policy of implementing austerity measures, which will become a part of our national culture and also help the nation to get rid of the prevailing financial problems.
“If 20% of the workers are sent to work from home on a rotational basis, this will save Rs56 billion,” said the minister. The minister also shared that the federal government was recommending switching street lights on alternately which will save about Rs4 billion.
“The government is also introducing e-bikes which will phase out the bikes that use petrol. The government is negotiating with the companies to phase out the bikes that use petrol and modify the existing bikes,” said Khawaja Asif.
The minister said that the government is reaching out to all four provinces to inform them about the policy and take them on board. He said that it is a national programme and will be launched with consensus.
Khawjaa Asif said that the government was slowly working on shifting to renewable energy but until that was achieved, such measures were important.
He went on to say that energy-efficient fans and bulbs would soon be introduced in the market, which would further help save Rs38bn. “Similarly, if street lights are used alternatively, we would be able to save Rs4bn.”
The minister also revealed that the government was in talks with motorcycle companies for electric bikes. “The motorcycles that run on petrol will slowly be phased out.
“We have begun imports for e-bikes and have started negotiations with motorcycle companies for the modification of existing motorcycles […] this will save us around Rs86bn,” he added.
If all these measures were translated, Khawaja Asif continued, “you will see that a lot of money can be saved”. He added that the Ministry of Information would be running a media campaign to spread awareness regarding these new measures among the public.
Talking about water conservation, the minister said that the government had devised ways through which rain water could be harvested and used for daily household consumption.
“In the next few days, we will be approaching all the provinces with this national project and then on Thursday the final approval of the conservation policy will be given,” Khawaja Asif stated.
He then called on the nation to “normalise” its behavorial patterns as the country was in a “grave economic crisis”, adding that “we can’t afford the culture of wastage anymore”.
“I also believe that politicians should be the first ones to adopt these changes and become role models for the public,” the minister added.
Meanwhile, Adviser to PM on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Qamar Zaman Kaira assured that Pakistan will not default. He urged the people to accept the government’s policy.
“The biggest issue of Pakistan is the import bill which is $26 to $28 billion and it keeps increasing. There is no other option for us than to take these steps and the nation will have to cooperate with the government,” said Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said during the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the efforts of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for presenting the case of Pakistani nation, and Kashmiris before the world during his press conference in the United Nations recently, while following the footprints of founding Chairman of the PPP and our ancestors.
He said Pakistanis itself are the worst victims of terrorism. He said we will not let to shelve the case of Pakistan and humanity. Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Pakistan was surrounded by an economic crisis at present, but at the same time assured that the country would not default.
“The government is taking all the measures it should, but we also need a response from the public,” he stressed. “If we say that we won’t change our habits […] won’t give any sacrifices and expect the government to do everything […] this is not possible.”
Kaira highlighted that the biggest problem Pakistan was facing today was the increasing import bill and warned that if these measures were not taken “we won’t be able to pay the bill anymore”.
“Hence, it is extremely important for the people to cooperate with the government. We also expect the provinces to look at these measures for the prosperity of Pakistan,” he added.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb was also present on the occasion.